Find out how popular the last name Zittel is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Zittel.

Zittel, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Zittel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zittel in America

Zittel is the 64559th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zittel surname appeared 308 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Zittel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zittel to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Zittel

The surname Zittel originated in Germany, specifically in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The earliest use of the surname dates back to the medieval times, around the 13th century. It is likely derived from the Middle High German word "zitter," which means "tremble" or "shake," indicative of a nickname or characteristic of an individual. Variations in spelling over the centuries included Zittel, Zittelmann, and Sittel.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname is in the tax records, known as Steuerbücher, from the early 14th century in the Franconian region. The name appears again in the church records of the free imperial cities of Augsburg and Nuremberg during the 15th century. In these records, various members of the Zittel family were noted as craftsmen, indicating that the name was associated with tradesmen and artisans during the late medieval period.

Ernst Wilhelm Zittel (1839–1904) was a notable German paleontologist who made significant contributions to the field of geology and paleobiology. He was born in Bahlingen in Baden-Württemberg and became a professor at the University of Munich. His works, especially in fossil studies, were influential in this scientific domain.

Johann Michael Zittel (1754–1827) was a respected composer and organist from Baden-Württemberg, known for his contributions to ecclesiastical music. His compositions were primarily in the classical style, and he held positions in several prominent churches during his lifetime.

Gertrud Zittel (1789–1854) was an accomplished German painter known for her landscapes and portraits. Born in Bavaria, she studied under notable artists of the Romantic period and exhibited her works widely in Europe. Her paintings are still celebrated for their intricate detail and emotional depth.

Karl Zittel (1858–1926) was a renowned engineer and inventor from Baden-Württemberg. He is credited with several important innovations in the field of mechanical engineering, including advancements in steam engine technology. His inventions were fundamental during the industrialization period in Germany.

The surname Zittel can also be found in historical military records. Captain Heinrich Zittel (1865–1917) served in the Imperial German Army and was decorated for his service during the early part of the First World War. His military career is well-documented in the archives of the German Federal Military Archives in Freiburg.

In conclusion, the Zittel surname has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe and has been borne by individuals of notable accomplishment in fields such as science, art, music, and engineering. Historical documents and records indicate that the name has been in use for several centuries and has varied slightly in spelling over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zittel

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Zittel.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Zittel was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Zittel has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Zittel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zittel, please contact us.

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